Submitted by Kevin Barber, Executive Director – Chairman of the BNI Foundation Worldwide Like many of you, as the new year started, I followed with disbelief as bushfires devastated Australia. The fact that I have BNI colleagues in the affected region shouldn’t really make a difference, but somehow it brought the dramatic situation even closer […]
I travel often, speaking to business professionals about networking. When traveling, especially internationally, I try very hard not to forget important items I need for meetings or speaking to groups of people . . . but I admit it’s hard to remember everything.
A Foundation of Care – Bushfire Relief
February 14, 2020 Submitted by Kevin Barber, Executive Director – Chairman of the BNI Foundation Worldwide Like...
Five Tips for Being a Stronger Leader
July 24, 2018 Throughout 2018, we have worked closely with BNI Members and BNI Directors from across the organizat...
People make the world go 'round. Joining BNI North Eastern has allowed for many possibilities including more connections, a bigger network, more business, greater opportunities in my local community, personal growth, challenges, support, friendships and, above all, the best way to start a new day. I do not know how I survived without my BNI network and couldn't imagine life (business or personal) without it. It really is easy to be Green!
I have been a member for coming up to 7 years. I would not have remained a member if I did not appreciate the benefits. The benefits are several:
Referrals leading to income for my business, support from what is a great community, access to products and services that have benefited me and my clients/friends/family
If you treat BNI as an integral part of your business, rather than an external attachment, I believe you will experience greater success.
Where else can you have 30+ people as sales consultants on the ground trying to find you referrals every week, without it costing an arm and a leg.
With Corona-19, it is more important than ever to have advocates for your business trying to help you survive. Better than being out there as a small business with fewer marketing/sales channels and fewer income streams doing it alone. Isolation can be terrible for any business. BNI is like a family.
I have taken on many roles within BNI, it feels better to give back, and be more of a contributor and less of a spectator. It’s all about Givers Gain.
Through BNI I’ve grown multiple mutual relationships with aligned business professionals culminating in over $100k per year ongoing. Sales through BNI business connections now constitutes over 35% of our business and is a key marketing channel where my time, energy and marketing dollars are spent
Surrounded by business professionals, you will have a whole new marketing team on your side.
A team that understands the tribulations and triumphs of being a small business owner.
“Over 70% of my business comes through BNI.”
“Presenting to the group each week has improved my public speaking and also made me more confident when approaching new potential clients.”
If you want to be part of a positive, supportive community that will help you grow your business, we’d love to meet you.
BNI is responsible for over 40% of our revenue in the last 12 months. It’s the Business Development Manager for our business that’s never on leave, and never too busy!
Since engaging BNI, I have grown my business turnover over 4 fold and have 8 staff and am on target to double my business again in the next 3 years. The contacts, business and networking skills I have gained from BNI is the primary reason for my success.
BNI has challenged me to determine my ‘why’ and has given me the tools to communicate my ‘why’ effectively. I’m now converting 85% more sales leads with higher value clients
I have been in BNI for 9 years now and it really has been the most incredible journey. I have grown as a person and business owner and have met so many wonderful people that will be life long business colleagues and friends. There is so much support from an organisation like BNI and today the business that I am receiving from my chapter accounts for 30% of my total business. I can't imagine being in business and not being in BNI.
I originally joined BNI to help grow my business, but I have gained a lot more from my 4 years of membership. My networking and relationship building skills, public speaking and ability to quickly and effectively pitch my business have all improved significantly. I've forged strong relationships with other small business owners that have helped mentor me and also referred a lot of business to me. Many of the friendships I've made in BNI will last my lifetime.
BNI has provided a platform to build my business by exposing me to a thriving and supportive network, this has not only allowed my business to evolve and flourish, it has opened doors that have led to personal growth and professional success.
I joined BNI on the insistence of the Caitlin Baker from Vogue Print Savers who was doing the printing for my clinic and a member of the chapter. She was at me for months about the benefits and it took me a while to take action but I am so glad that I did.
I am now a 6 year member of the chapter and I have built great business relationships, a network of trusted advisors, trusted businesses that I can refer to and most importantly some great friends. This last point is a strong one as we often have visitors to our chapter that are members of other BNI chapters and they almost always remark about the 'feeling' in the room. Warm, friendly, camaraderie, happy, fun are just some of the terms that frequently get used.
On top of this, the services that I have used in my chapter over the journey have been hugely valuable to me in my personal life.
So not only has BNI given me a great business network, it has also given me some great personal relationships, it has enhanced my personal life and it has happened through attending a weekly meeting that is a thoroughly enjoyable use of time.
Just typing this I can see why Caitlin was relentless in getting me to join. My question to others, why wouldn't you want to get the same outcome as I have?
BNI has taught me how to develop key referral partnerships with other businesses that meet my customers before I do. In the last quarter, sales generated through BNI has accounted for a third of my turnover.
BNI has helped me to identify my ideal client AND how to approach them. To top it off, I am now also a confident public speaker.
BNI has been an integral part of my business growth strategy for over 5 years. 75% of my business comes from my BNI connections.
I have a thirst for knowledge and trying new things, BNI ticks all my boxes, I’ve learnt so many new skills and built amazing relationships along the way.
